Red River College Applied Research Project By Melissa McMillan & Mark Dacquel

1. Applied Research Project
Recycled Glass Mix Design
Prepared for:
Dr. Peter Denton & Dr. Arman Vahedi
Final Report
2055 Notre Dame Avenue
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Red River College
Prepared by:
Melissa McMillan
Mark Dacquel

2. i
Acknowledgements
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to everyone that has been involved in this
Applied Research Project. A special thanks goes out to the faculty of Red River College,
including our Applied Research Project instructor, Dr. Arman Vahedi; our project
advisors Dr. Peter Denton and John Kuchak; the educational assistant in the CARSI Lab,
Cody Buskell; and all instructors and classmates from year one to our final year that has
contributed to our thought process in Civil Engineering Technology. We also cannot fail
to mention all the people and companies from industry including; The Construction
Resource Initiatives Council (CRIC); Linton Mounk, Brian Scammell and Evan Stanhope
of Building Products & Concrete Supply LP; the people from Clear Choice Windows and
Doors Incorporated, Emterra Environmental and Jeldwen Windows and Doors. Without
everyone, we could not have accomplished what we had, and for that we are truly
grateful.

3. ii
Abstract
Waste glass is a major component of the solid waste streams throughout the world. Glass
can be found in many forms, including bottles, windows, containers or light bulbs.
Construction, demolition and renovation waste is responsible for 20-40% of municipal
waste that ends up in landfills. Our aim of this project was to satisfy our core principles
of sustainability, environmental awareness, practicality and applicability to the civil
engineering industry as civil/environmental technology student
In aligning our core principles with that of the Construction Resource Initiatives
Council’s Mission 2030 project towards zero waste in the construction industry, this
Applied Research Project (ARP) investigated the specifications of ready mix concrete
using 9% of crushed recycled glass from window renovation waste as an alternative to
sand in fine aggregates in the City of Winnipeg hand placement pavement concrete mix
design.
The findings of this investigation found that the 9% replacement of recycled glass in the
fines range met and exceeded the specifications from the City of Winnipeg’s hand
placement pavement mix design in comparison to documented tests of the same mix
design.
In response to liability issues with new technologies, especially in the construction
industry, due diligence is mandatory. Further tests need to be conducted to investigate the
many variables when using glass as an aggregate in concrete.

4. TABLE OF CONTENTS
Acknowledgements ...........................................................................................................................i
Abstract ............................................................................................................................................ii
Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 1
Review of Related Literature....................................................................................................... 1
Purpose........................................................................................................................................ 2
Project Scope............................................................................................................................... 2
Project Approach............................................................................................................................. 3
Recycled Glass Mix Design Project................................................................................................ 4
Project Site .................................................................................................................................. 4
Glass Supply................................................................................................................................ 4
Glass Gradation........................................................................................................................... 5
Moisture Content & Mechanical Sieve Analysis ........................................................................ 6
Constraints................................................................................................................................... 6
Mix Design.................................................................................................................................. 7
Materials...................................................................................................................................... 8
Equipment ................................................................................................................................... 8
Batching Process ......................................................................................................................... 8
Concrete Quality Testing............................................................................................................. 9
Sampling................................................................................................................................ 10
Temperature........................................................................................................................... 10
Slump..................................................................................................................................... 11
Air Content............................................................................................................................ 11
Compressive Strength Test.................................................................................................... 12
Curing Specifications ............................................................................................................ 13
Analysis of Data........................................................................................................................ 13
Recommendations ......................................................................................................................... 14
Conclusion..................................................................................................................................... 14
References ..................................................................................................................................... 15
Appendices.................................................................................................................................... 17

5. Appendix A: Core Principles..................................................................................................... 18
Appendix B: Mission 2030 Pledge............................................................................................ 19
Appendix C: Gantt Chart........................................................................................................... 21
Appendix D: Project Team........................................................................................................ 22
Appendix E: Mechanical Sieve Analysis at CARSI Lab .......................................................... 23
Appendix F: Recycled Glass Mix Design Results..................................................................... 24

6. 1
Introduction
Waste glass is a major component of the solid waste streams throughout the world. Glass
can be found in many forms, including bottles, windows, containers or light bulbs.
“Construction, demolition and renovation waste is responsible for 20-40% of municipal
waste that ends up in landfills, due to inefficient use of building/construction resources”
(Construction Resource Initiatives Council, 2013). In aligning our core principles with
that of the Construction Resource Initiatives Counsel (see Appendix A – Core
Principles), we intend on working towards a solution of eliminating construction glass
from the waste stream. Benefits of using waste glass as fine aggregates in concrete
include: working towards zero construction waste (Mission 2030); taking a proactive
approach to sustainable development; utilizing the three R’s – RECYCLE, REUSE AND
REDUCE; diversion of glass from waste stream; and supplementing non-renewable
resources such as aggregates in design mix codes.
Review of Related Literature
Multiple studies (Yungping Xi, 2003; Liang, 2007) have been conducted regarding the
use of glass in concrete. These studies have identified the benefits of using glass in
concrete and also the deleterious effect of glass as an aggregate causing alkali silica
reaction (ASR).
“First, the particle size of glass aggregate was found to have a major influence on ASR
expansion. Since ASR is clearly a surface-area dependent phenomenon, one would
expect the ASR associated expansion to increase monotonically with aggregate fineness”
(Liang, 2007). Based on what we have reviewed, we have decided to deviate from our

7. 2
proposal to supplement coarse and fine aggregates in a mix design to just a percentage of
fine aggregates to deter ASR.
“In its simplest form, concrete is a mixture of paste and aggregates. The paste, composed
of Portland cement and water, coats the surface of the fine and coarse aggregates.
Through a chemical reaction called hydration, the paste hardens and gains strength to
form the rock-like mass known as concrete. For a good concrete mix, aggregates need to
be clean, hard, strong particles free of absorbed chemicals or coatings of clay and other
fine materials that could cause the deterioration of concrete. Fine aggregates generally
consist of natural sand or crushed stone with most particles passing through a 3/8-inch
sieve. Coarse aggregates are any particles greater than 0.19 inches, but generally range
between 3/8 and 1.5 inches in diameter” (Portland Cement Association, 2014).
Purpose
This Applied Research Project (ARP) investigated the specifications of ready mix
concrete, supplementing 9% of fine aggregate with crushed recycled glass in the City of
Winnipeg’s hand placement pavement mix design, while satisfying our values of
sustainability, environmental awareness, practicality and applicability to the civil
engineering industry as civil/environmental technology student (see Appendix B -
Mission 2030 Pledge).
Project Scope
The project focuses on the specifications of the City of Winnipeg’s hand placement
pavement mix design and comparing them with the results of the same mix design using
9% of fine aggregate with crushed glass from construction renovation waste.

8. 3
The report will discuss choosing an appropriate mix design, the procedures in batching
and testing, analysis of data, the processing of waste glass and the benefits of diverting
the glass from the landfill.
Project Approach
Project planning determined our approach and schedule (see Appendix C – Gantt Chart).
Our research consisted of discussions with our project advisors Dr. Peter Denton and
John Kuchak of Red River College and industry contact, Brian Scammell, Quality
Control Supervisor of Building Products & Concrete Supply LP (see Appendix D –
Project Team) and online reviews of scholar and industry literature. We decided on using
the City of Winnipeg’s hand placement pavement mix design because it is one of the
more commonly used designs supplied by Building Products (80 years) and because of its
high strength in MPa and low water to cement ratio. We also decided on supplementing
just 9% of fine aggregates in the mix design with clear window glass from the
construction waste stream to maintain specification integrity and deter ASR. We secured
a supply of used clear window glass from Clear Choice Windows & Doors Inc. in
Winnipeg to use as our supplementing material. These windows were either damaged or
removed from renovation sites and were stored in disposal bins that would have been
transported to the landfill.

9. 4
Recycled Glass Mix Design Project
Project Site
The window glass was crushed in the CARSI lab on February 17, 2015 and transported to
the materials lab at Red River Community College for mechanical sieve analysis. The
mix design, batching and sampling took place at Building Products & Concrete Supply
LP on February 18, 2015.
Glass Supply
Our glass search began at the Emterra Environmental Materials Recovery Facility
(MRF). We were given a tour around the facility and was given glass in the form of beer,
wine, spirits and and juice bottles. These bottles were pulled directly off the sorting line.
We transported the glass bottles to Building Products for further inspection. We opted to
not to use the glass as per Mission 2030, working towards eliminating construction waste.
That is not to say that this glass, if cleaned from contaminates, couldn’t be used in a mix
code.
We approached Jeldwen Windows and Doors, a local windows and doors manufacturer
in hopes of obtaining windows that may have been damaged in the process of
manufacturing. Their response was that they could not supply us with glass due to
liability reasons. We then approached Clear Choice Windows & Doors Store
Incorporated. They are a smaller window and doors distributor that also provides
installation of their products. When a customer buys windows for renovation, the installer
will remove the old windows and return them to Clear Choice where they are stored in
disposal bins until they are ultimately transported to the landfill. Clear Choice willingly

10. 5
supplied us with three old windows, and stated that if there were a company willing to
take old windows, it would save them money for the service of picking up the windows
and delivering them to the landfill.
Glass Gradation
Fine aggregate is 100% passing a 9.5mm (3/4”) sieve. To achieve this gradation the
process included:
 Smashing the window glass out of the frame using hammers.
 Placing glass into pails.
 Placing glass into the rotating crusher with 4 metal balls.
 Rotating the machine five times and inspection the glass.
 Added two more balls and rotated the machine 10 times and inspection of glass.
 Added two more balls (total of eight), and rotated the machine 20 times.
 Took sample of glass and placed into 9.5mm sieve along with a 4.75mm sieve
underneath.
 Perform manual agitation of the sieve and inspected the sieve.
 Glass was still collected on the 9.5mm sieve, which meant the glass was still too
coarse.
 Placed glass back into the crusher and rotating for 60 revolutions with 8 balls.
 Perform another manual sieve analysis.
 Achieved 100% passing the 9.5 mm sieve.

11. 6
Moisture Content & Mechanical Sieve Analysis
The glass was transported to the materials lab at Red River College where we performed
a mechanical sieve analysis (see Appendix E – Mechanical Sieve Analysis at CARSI
Lab) and moisture content test. The glass was put through a mechanical splitter to
provide an unbiased sample of the glass. The moisture content test of our glass resulted in
of 0.02%. The processed glass was transported to Building Products in a sealed plastic
container.
Constraints
There are four main constraints when it comes to using glass as a replacement for
concrete aggregates; Water-Cement Ratio, Moisture Content, Alkali-Silica Reaction
(ASR) and the shape and texture of glass.
Water-Cement Ratio is a ratio of the weight of water to the weight of cement used in
concrete mixes. It influences the quality of concrete produced. A lower water-cement
ratio leads to higher strengths and durability, but this also makes placement of the
concrete more difficult, our water-cement ratio was 0.40, which is within normal limits.
Our glass had a Moisture Content of 0.02%, this effected the amount of sand we were
able to replace without causing the strength of the mix to fail.
Alkali-Silica Reaction (ASR) occurs over time, and causes an expansion of altered
aggregate by the formation of swelling gel of calcium silicate hydrate. ASR can cause
serious cracking and critical structural problems.

12. 7
Particle shape and surface texture influences the properties of freshly mixed concrete.
The glass was smooth, yet flat and elongated. Particles of this shape require more water
to produce workable concrete over rounded compact aggregate. Because of this, the
cement content must also be increased to maintain the water-cement ratio. Generally, flat
and elongated particles are avoided or are limited to about 15 percent by weight of the
total aggregate.
Mix Design
Building Products City of Winnipeg hand paving mix code has been used for nearly 80
years. The specification of this mix design are as follows:
 Strength: 32 MPa
 Aggregate Breakdown:
o Coarse: 56%
o Fine: 44%
 Cement Type: T-GU Edmonton (Type 10 Portland)
 Slump: 70mm (+/- 20mm)
 Air: 5-8%

13. 8
Materials
The following chart shows the different ingredients and the quantity of each that went
into our mix design.
Ingredient Quantity
20mm Aggregate 41.85 kg
Washed Sand 25.96 kg
Glass 7.0 kg
Cement (T-GU Edmonton) 11.6 kg
Flyash 2.0 kg
Water 4.87 kg/L
WRDA-64 (Water Reducer) 34.1 CTS/mL
Daravair-1400 (Air) 5.4 CTS/mL
Equipment
We used a portable concrete mixer at Building Products to batch the mix design. The
Equipment used to perform the quality control tests will be discussed later in the report.
Batching Process
The Quality Control Supervisor at Building Products & Concrete Supply is Brian
Scammell. Brian insisted that he personally perform the batching procedures to minimize
variability compared with his previous mix designs. Brian has worked for Building
Products for 37 years, developing the companies’ latest mix designs.

14. 9
Brian’s batching process is as follows:
1) 20mm Pine Ridge Stone
2) Water
3) Cement/Flyash
4) Water Reducer
5) Sand
6) Water
7) Glass
8) Sand
9) Water
10) Air
Once all the ingredients were added, the concrete was mixed for 15 minutes prior to
sampling to conduct our quality control tests.
Concrete Quality Testing
Concrete testing is performed by both concrete companies, and construction companies to
ensure that the concrete being delivered and/or received on a job site is the correct
product that was specified and purchased. The individual performing the tests must have
ACI or CSA training/qualifications.
Concrete companies have various mix designs. Each design must meet specifications
such as: maximum water-cement ratio, air content, slump, maximum size of aggregate,
strength and admixtures. Concrete testing is done to ensure the concrete produced meets
the specifications of the mix design ordered.

15. 10
Sampling
Accurate testing of fresh concrete begins with the procedure of obtaining and preparing
the sample to be tested. We placed a wheelbarrow under the mixer and allowed the whole
sample to be collected. We transported the wheelbarrow to where we would be
conducting our tests and then remixed the sample with a shovel one last time before
testing.
Temperature
The temperature of concrete influences the quality, strength, and the time of set of the
concrete. The temperature of our concrete was 20.8ᵒC and the labs ambient temperature
was 22ᵒC.
The equipment used is:
 CSA approved thermometer (accurate to +/- 0.5˚C, with a temperature range from
0˚C to 50˚C).
The process of taking temperature is to be completed within five minutes after obtaining
and remixing the sample. Place the thermometer in the sample with a minimum of 75mm
cover around sensor and gently press the concrete around the thermometer. Read the
temperature after a minimum of two minutes, or when temperature reading stabilizes.

16. 11
Slump
The slump test determines the consistency of the concrete production, and provides a
technique for comparing the “feel” of one batch with another of the same mix design. It is
measured by height, not by volume with a precision of 5mm. Our slump result was
70mm, which was exactly on specification (70mm +/- 20mm).
The equipment used is:
 Slump cone (300mm in height, base has a diameter of 200mm and the top has a
diameter of 100mm)
 Tamping rod (16mm diameter, and a length of 500mm)
The process of slump testing is to be completed within 10 minutes of the sample being
transported and remixed, and the whole test should be performed within two minutes
from start of filling to start of lift.
Air Content
The air content test determines the air content of freshly mixed concrete from
observations of the change in volume with a change in pressure.

17. 12
The equipment used is:
 Cylindrical container/pot made of metal (minimum capacity of the pot is 7L for
aggregate size of 40mm or less, and 15L for aggregate size of 56mm)
 Cover designed to be attached to the measuring pot for pressure tight assembly
(ensure it has been calibrated)
 Tamping rod (16mm in diameter, 500mm in length)
 Rubber mallet
 Squirt bottle
The process for determining air content should be completed within 10 minutes after the
sample has been transported and remixed.
Compressive Strength Test
The compressive strength test is a method for making and curing cylinders. We made 4
cylinders (a 7day, 2-28 days, and a 56 day), and they were stored in the lab in a lime
solution to cure.
The equipment used is:
 Cylinder moulds which meet the requirements of CSA A23.2-1D
 Tamping rod (10mm in diameter, 500mm in length)
 Rubber mallet
Cylinders should be completed within 20 minutes after obtaining and remixing the
sample.

18. 13
Curing Specifications
Proper initial curing of the cylinders is essential for getting accurate strength results.
Once our cylinders were made, they were placed on a sturdy metal table in the lab and
left to cure for 20 hours before the moulds were removed by lab technician Evan
Stanhope. The cylinders were marked with an identification number and placed in tanks
full of a limewater solution to cure until it was time to break them. The tanks at Building
Products are set at a temperature between 21-23ᵒC. Daily temperature readings are
taking a Building Products to ensure proper initial curing of cylinders.
Analysis of Data
The results from our quality control tests were recorded in real time (see Appendix F –
Recycled Glass Mix Design Results). The cylinders were broken at the Building Products
lab. The results were as follows:
Cylinder and Date Strength
7- day (February 25, 2015) 21.5 MPa
28-day (March 11, 2015) 38.4 Mpa
28-day (March 11, 2015) 34.9 MPa
56-day (April 15, 2015) 39.2 MPa
The strength of our design met and exceeded the specified strength of 32 MPa at the 28-
day breaks, and the 56-day break.

19. 14
Recommendations
Due to liability issues with new technologies, especially in the construction industry, due
diligence is mandatory. Further tests need to be conducted to investigate the many
variables when using glass as an aggregate in concrete. In aligning the industries’ core
principles with that of the Construction Resource Initiatives Council, by changing
management strategies; effective communication, awareness and advocacy; integration
and education; commitment to tools and support; sustainable development research and
technology for zero waste the ideology of impossible can in fact become possible.
Conclusion
The 9% replacement of recycled glass in the fines range met and exceeded the
specifications from the City of Winnipeg’s hand placement pavement mix design in
comparison to documented tests of the same mix design. The feasibility of large volume
replacement is beyond the scope of our project, but it is safe to assume that
supplementing sand with a portion of free recycled glass, will in fact lower annual
materials cost for aggregates. The benefits of using recycled glass in a mix design
include:
 Working towards zero construction waste by 2030 (Mission 2030)
 Taking a proactive approach to sustainable development
 Utilizing the 3 R’s – Recycle, Reduce and Reuse

20. 15
References
ACI Manitoba Chapter. (2009). Technician Workbook 2009 For Training of Concrete
Field Testing Technicians. Winnipeg.
Concret Staff. (2006, January 13). Making and Curing Concrete Cylinders. Retrieved
November 14, 2014, from Concrete Construction:
http://www.concreteconstruction.net/concrete-curing/making-and-curing-
concrete-cylinders.aspx
Concrete Joint Sustainability Iniative. (n.d.). Concrete's Vital Contribution to Sustainable
Development. Retrieved December 9, 2014, from Concrete Joint Sustainability
Initiative: http://www.sustainableconcrete.org/
Environment Canada. (2014, July 2). Sustainable Development. Retrieved December 9,
2014, from Environment Canda: http://www.ec.gc.ca/dd-
sd/default.asp?lang=En&n=C2844D2D-1
Jr., W. C. (2008, February). Quality Management Systems for Ready Mixed Concrete
Companies. Retrieved October 29, 2014, from www.nrmca.org:
http://www.nrmca.org/p2p/qms%203%20parts%20small.pdf
Liang, H. Z. (2007, September 15). Use of Waste Glass as Aggregate in Concrete.
Edinburgh, UK.
NRMCA. (2007). Concrete in Practice. Retrieved November 16, 2014, from Concrete
Answers: http://www.concreteanswers.org/CIPs/CIP41.htm
Portland Cement Association. (2014). How Concrete is Made. Retrieved December 9,
2014, from Portland Cement Association: http://www.cement.org/cement-
concrete-basics/how-concrete-is-made
Ready Mixed Concret Company. (2009). Quality Assurance. Retrieved November 1,
2014, from RMCC: http://www.rmcc.com/quality-assurance-control.html

21. 16
Red River College. (2014). ACI Certification for Concrete Field Testing Technician -
Grade 1. Winnipeg.
Sustainable Concrete. (2012). Aggregates. Retrieved December 9, 2014, from
Sunstainable Concrete:
http://www.sustainableconcrete.org.uk/top_nav/what_is_concrete/aggregates.aspx
thwink.org. (2014). Analytical Method. Retrieved December 10, 2014, from thwink.org:
http://www.thwink.org/sustain/glossary/AnalyticalMethod.htm
Yungping Xi, Y. L. (2003). Utilization of Solid Wastes (Waste Glass and Rubber
Particles) as Aggregates in Concrete. Boulder, Colorado, USA.

22. 17
Appendices

23. 18
Appendix A: Core Principles

24. 19
Appendix B: Mission 2030 Pledge

25. 20

26. 21
Appendix C: Gantt Chart

27. 22
Appendix D: Project Team
Name Experience
Peter Denton, Ph.D.
(Instructor in Ethics and
Sustainability at Red River
College and member of the CRI
Council Board of Directors)
Dr. Peter Denton is a cultural systems analyst, with
particular interests in social and environmental
sustainability as well as appropriate technology and
development.
Brian Scammel
(Quality Control Supervisor at
Building Products & Concrete
Supply)
Brian Scammell has been with Building Products &
Concrete Supply for 37 years, and has experience
developing new mix designs, conducting quality
control and compressive strength tests.
John Kuchak, C.E.T.
(Geotechnical Instructor at Red
River College)
John Kuchak has 42 years of experience as an
industry practitioner in the fields of civil engineering
construction with a strong emphasis in geotechnical
investigations, materials testing, preparation of
Portland cement and asphaltic concrete mix designs,
quality control inspections of construction, and
concrete technology and restoration.
Mark Dacquel
(Senior Environmental
Technology Student at Red River
College)
Mark Dacquel has six months’ work experience as a
Junior Structural Technologist and six months work
experience as a Laboratory and Quality Control
Technician. He is ACI certified in concrete field
testing.
Melissa McMillan
(Senior Environmental
Technology Student at Red River
College)
Melissa McMillan has one year work experience as
a Laboratory and Quality Control Technician. She is
ACI certified in concrete field testing.

28. 23
Appendix E: Mechanical Sieve Analysis at CARSI Lab
Sieve Size
Individual
Mass
Retained (g)
Corrective
Individual
Mass
Retained (g)
Individual
Retained (%)
City of Winnipeg
Specifications
3/8”
(9.5 mm)
- - 100.0 100
#4
(4.75 mm)
291 58.6 41.3 95-100
#8
(2.36 mm)
104 21.0 20.3 80-100
#16
(1.18 mm)
42 8.5 11.8 50-90
#30
(0.630 mm)
25 5.0 6.8 25-65
#50
(0.33 mm)
16 3.2 3.6 10-35
#100
(0.150 mm)
12 2.4 1.2 2-10
#200
(0.075 mm)
6 1.2 0 0-3
Pan .2 0
Total (g) 496.2 100.0

29. 24
Appendix F: Recycled Glass Mix Design Results